[hous-leek] 
| 1. | Also called old-man-and-old-woman. a succulent plant, Sempervivum tectorum, of the stonecrop family, native to Europe, having reddish flowers and leaves forming dense basal rosettes. |
| 2. | any other plant of the genus Sempervivum. |
| house·leek (hous'lēk') n. Any of various plants of the genus Sempervivum native to the Old World, especially S. tectorum, having a persistent basal rosette of fleshy leaves and a branching cluster of pinkish or purplish flowers. Also called live-forever, old-man-and-woman. |
houseleek
any of numerous low-growing succulent plants constituting the genus Sempervivum, about 40 species, in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae), native to Europe, Morocco, and western Asia. The name houseleek refers to the growth of some species on thatched roofs in Europe; "live-forever" indicates their hardiness and durability. Houseleeks usually have thick fleshy leaves arranged in a dense rosette. Small plantlets, or offsets, arise in a cluster around the parent plant. They are useful in garden borders and rock gardens and are attractive in window pots indoors
Learn more about houseleek with a free trial on Britannica.com.
